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Life before the War
Albert was the first of four siblings born to Francis Edward and Louisa Allen, nee Anderson. This was undoubtedly a London family with Francis being born in Southwark in 1859, Louisa in Bermondsey in 1861 and three of the four children in Lambeth.

At the 1891 census the family lived in Camberwell before moving to Southampton between 1891 and 1901.

Francis and Louisa married in 1884. Louisa died in Southampton in 1917 and Francis in Bournemouth in 1930.

Interestingly, both Albert and Sidney are shown as lodging with a family in Dulwich in the 1911 census. We would presume that this was when Albert enlisted with the London Regiment.

War Service
In August 1914 Albert’s battalion was mobilised to Abbotts Langley and landed at Le Havre on 31st October. On 7th November his battalion came under the command of the 1st Brigade in the 1st Division. On 8th February 1916 all were yet again transferred, this time to the 168th Brigade in the 56th (London) Division. This new Division remained in France and Flanders, taking part in various Somme engagements through the rest of 1916.

Albert was evidently granted some home leave in 1916 because he married Elsie Lillian Anderson in Camberwell. Elsie was a local girl, born in 1890. There is a strong possibility that she remarried in 1933, to one Horace L. Watson, again in Camberwell. Elsie died in Camberwell in 1966.

Albert was probably badly wounded during the April 1917 First Battle of the Scarpe, around Feuchy near Arras. He would have been transferred behind the lines and probably ended up at one of the many field hospitals in the Rouen region.

His final resting place is the St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen (Plot O.1X.F.9). The Extension holds 8348 Commonwealth burials whilst the original cemetery holding 3083 burials.

Old Tauntonians’ Memorial Roll

Time at Taunton’s School: 1899 – 1900

Education & Employment: Albert was born on 11th June 1885 in London. He lived on Lawn Road when he moved to Southampton. Albert attended Bevois Town Board School before joining Taunton’s. After school Albert worked as a Commercial Traveller for a manufacturer of varnish.

Life during the War: Albert was living in London at the outbreak of war. He joined up on 22nd January 1916 and was mobilised on 18th August 1916. He married Elsie Lilian Anderson on 4th November 1916 at St. James Presbyterian Church of Scotland on East Dulwich Road and their home was in Honor Oak in south east London.

Albert was posted overseas on 27th Decmeber 1916 as part of the British Expeditionary Force in France. He served with the 1st Battalion of the London Scottish Regiment and was binding the wounds of a comrade on the battlefield when he was killed.

Albert died on 18th April 1917 aged 32 years.

Researcher:

Mark Heritage

Published.:

8th October 2014

Updated:

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